On September 8, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that its forces had taken control of Novohrodivka, a town in Donetsk Oblast. However, the Ukrainian military stated that fighting was still ongoing in the area. Novohrodivka is located about 20 kilometers from Pokrovsk, a crucial logistical hub for Ukrainian forces. This sector has been described as the most challenging and has been the site of intense fighting for several months.
According to Serhii Tsehotskyi, an officer with Ukraine’s 59th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade, the decision to withdraw from Novohrodivka was made due to its unfavorable geographical location. It was also reported that the town was poorly fortified, making it easier for Russian forces to capture it in just a few days. However, the Ukrainian General Staff has not confirmed the withdrawal or commented on the Russian claims.
The Ukrainian military has reported repelling numerous attacks near Pokrovsk and its surrounding settlements, including Novohrodivka. It is unclear if the battles are taking place within the town itself or only in its vicinity. The Kyiv Independent reached out to the Ukrainian military for further information but has not received a response yet.
The Russian Defense Ministry also claimed to have captured four other settlements near Pokrovsk in the past week: Zhuravka, Skuchne, Karlovka, and Zavitne. However, these claims could not be verified. In an interview with CNN on September 5, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi stated that Russia’s advance in the Pokrovsk direction had been halted in the past six days. He attributed this to Ukraine’s incursion into Russia’s Kursk Oblast, which was intended to divert Russian forces from other hot sectors in Donetsk Oblast.
Read More @ kyivindependent.com